During the October 2007 meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Program's Principals' Staff Committee, the Bay watershed jurisdictions and EPA agreed that EPA would establish the multi-state Chesapeake Bay TMDL. The Bay TMDL was the subject of public discussion and close interaction between EPA and the seven watershed jurisdictions since 2005. Read the Bay TMDL

A concentrated outreach period of 2009 and 2010 featured hundreds of meetings with interested groups; two extensive rounds of public meetings, stakeholder sessions, and media interviews; a dedicated EPA website; a series of monthly interactive webinars accessed online by more than 2,500 people; three notices published in the Federal Register; and a close working relationship with Chesapeake Bay Program committees representing citizens, local governments, and the scientific community.

The states and the District of Columbia also involved stakeholders and the broader public in the development of their Watershed Implementation Plans, which informed the Bay TMDL.

The development of the TMDL consisted of a series of steps:

EPA provided the jurisdictions with loading allocations for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment for the major river basins by jursdiction.

Jurisdictions developed draft Phase I WIPs to achieve those basin-jurisdiction allocations. In those draft WIPs, jurisdictions made decisions on how to further sub-allocate the basin-jurisdiction loadings to various individual point sources and a number of point and nonpoint source pollution sectors.

EPA evaluated the draft WIPs and, where deficiencies existed, EPA provided backstop allocations in the draft TMDL that consisted of a hybrid of the jurisdiction WIP allocations modified by EPA allocations for some source sectors to fill gaps in the WIPs.

The draft TMDL was published for a 45-day public comment period and EPA held 18 public meetings in all six states and the District of Columbia, Public comments were received, reviewed and considered fo rthe final TMDL.

Jurisdictions, working closely with EPA, revised and strengthened Phase I WIPs and submitted final versions to EPA.

EPA evaluated the final WIPs and used them along with public comments to develop the final TMDL.

August 12, Maryland Association of Counties' annual meeting, Ocean City, Md. — The Maryland Association of Counties session about two major initiatives to restore the Chesapeake Bay – the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and the Executive Order signed by President Obama.

September 10, Chesapeake Bay Commission Meeting, Williamsburg, Va. — Update for the Chesapeake Bay Commission (CBC) on the Bay TMDL. The CBC is a tri-state legislative commission created in 1980 to advise the members of the General Assemblies of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on matters of Bay-wide concern.

September 10, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Water Resources Technical Committee, Washington, D.C. – Presentation on Bay TMDL and other Chesapeake Bay issues at committee meeting. Get details

October 10, Chespeake Bay Watershed Forum, Shepherdstown, WVa. — Saturday morning session on the Bay TMDL at the Chesapeake Watershed Forum's annual conference for watershed organizations and local government officials from around the multi-state Chesapeake Bay region. Full weekend discussions, October 9-11 include the latest scientific techniques in Bay restoration and protection, addressing specific organizational capacity building needs, focusing on regional and watershed-wide needs, networking with other watershed organizations, and enjoying the beauty of the watershed.

October 23, Principals’ Staff Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C. – Key issues regarding the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load to be considered by the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at 441 4th St. NW, Washington, D.C. (Above the Judiciary Square Metro station). In Washington, D.C. to consider “working targets” for pollution cuts necessary to meet clean water standards in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. The Principals’ Staff Committee (PSC) will consider preliminary recommendations for slashes in nitrogen and phosphorus levels throughout the entire 64,000-square-mile watershed and within the states’ major river basins. The working targets, which will be subject to change based on new information in the coming months, will allow the states and the District to begin development of pollution-reduction plans. The PSC will get a preview of EPA’s upcoming guidance to the states for developing those plans and assuring target loads are met.

A team of EPA Region 3 employees conducted an intense, seven-week outreach campaign in the fall of 2009 to exchange information on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL, or "pollution diet" for a 64,000 square mile watershed.

The campaign included 16 public meetings covering the six watershed states and the District of Columbia from early November through mid-December, as well as a kick off public meeting in Virginia on October 2. A number of the public meetings were broadcast to a live online audience through the application of webinar technology. The EPA presenters received hundreds of questions and comments, giving the agency a good sense for the issues, concerns and support involved.

The EPA team also met with the media and conducted nearly 50 separate meetings and briefings with a variety of stakeholder groups, including farmers and producers, homebuilders, municipal authorities, local elected officials, conservation groups and environmental advocacy organizations.

The outreach generated key insights and perspectives that will help strengthen the Bay TMDL. In all, the fall campaign reached an estimated 3,000 people and was covered by print, radio and television media.

Key Messages Delivered

Bay TMDL features accountability measures to ensure results

In addition to the Bay, efforts will benefit local rivers and streams used for fishing, swimming, recreation and drinking water

Fairness factor: The more your area impairs, the more it must repair

Sophisticated science will allow allocations to local areas and sources

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

March 17, Hearing before the Joint Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resource & Energy and the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committees, Harrisburg, PA — U.S. EPA Mid Atlantic Water Protection Division Director Jon Capacasa and U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay TMDL Manager Robert Koroncai appear before the joint committees to provide an update on the Bay TMDL. Read the written testimony PDF (8 pg., 24K)More...

March 22 - from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT
Bay TMDL Webinar for the Agricultural Community.
A host of speakers outline key aspects of the Bay TMDL with a focus on the suite of Bay models and their role in the agricultural components of the TMDL "pollution diet." View the presentation (PDF) (114 pg, 12M)

March 25 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar Series - Update 2.
Second in a series of updates and previews concerning the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load - a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake BayView the presentation (PDF) (55 pg, 3.6M)

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

April 23, 2010, EPA Briefing for State Agricultural Secretaries/Commissioners, Harrisburg, PA. — presentation given at the EPA/State Agricultural Secretaries/Commissioners meeting on the Bay TMDL/Bay models. Click to download the presentation (PDF) 78 pg, 8M About PDF

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

May 17 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Rescheduled - Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 3
Third in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information, a preview of upcoming developments, and a report from the State of Maryland. View the presentation (PDF) (2.2M, 37 pg)

May 6 - from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT
Webinar to enable EPA and others to exchange information with representatives of the homebuilder and development community on key aspects of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load. View the presentation (PDF) ( 12M, 119 pg)

May 4 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT (Postponed)
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar Series — Update 3
Third in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information, a preview of upcoming developments, and a report from the State of Maryland.

Postponed due to technical difficulties. This session has been rescheduled for May 17, 2010. See reschedule notice above.

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

June 7 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 4
Fourth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments. View the presentation (PDF)(954K, 33pg)

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

July 8 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 5
Fifth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments.

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

August 19 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 6
Sixth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments.

2010The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

September 28 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 7
Seventh in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — Join us for the latest news and information about the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load - a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
On the eve of EPA's first public meeting on the Bay TMDL this fall, EPA officials will highlight features of the draft TMDL.Click to download the presentation (PDF) (49pg, 3.3M)

March 22 - from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT
Bay TMDL Webinar for the Agricultural Community.
A host of speakers outline key aspects of the Bay TMDL with a focus on the suite of Bay models and their role in the agricultural components of the TMDL "pollution diet."View the presentation (PDF) (114 pg, 12M)

March 25 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar Series - Update 2.
Second in a series of updates and previews concerning the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load - a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake BayView the presentation (PDF) (55 pg, 3.6M)

May 17 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Rescheduled - Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 3
Third in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information, a preview of upcoming developments, and a report from the State of Maryland.View the presentation (PDF) (2.2M, 37 pg)

June 7 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 4
Fourth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments. View the presentation (PDF)(954K, 33pg)

July 8 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 5
Fifth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments.View the presentation (PDF) (53 pg, 2.5M)

August 19 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 6
Sixth in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. The webinar offers the latest information and a preview of upcoming developments.

September 28 - from 10:00 am to 11:30 am EDT
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Webinar - Update 7
Seventh in a series of online updates this year on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL — Join us for the latest news and information about the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load - a strict "pollution diet" to restore local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
On the eve of EPA's first public meeting on the Bay TMDL this fall, EPA officials will highlight features of the draft TMDL. Click to download the presentation (PDF) (49pg, 3.3M)

2010 Bay TMDL Webinar Series

During the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load development in 2010, EPA held a series of monthly webinars to provide updates on this "pollution diet" for the watershed.

The webinar series is a key feature of a concentrated outreach effort to provide transparency and collaboration in the establishment of EPA's largest and most complex TMDL to date. The webinars are designed to help demystify the process and allow interaction between officials designing the TMDL and the general public, particularly interested stakeholders.

The webinars allow a large online audience to learn about and react to the TMDL without leaving their home or office. Each of the webinars features a non-EPA special guest and a lengthy question and answer session.

EPA hosted a Bay TMDL webinar each month through Labor Day and then in conjunction with public meetings throughout the watershed. The TMDL is scheduled to be completed by December 2010.

The PDF links on this page can be viewed with the Adobe PDF reader. About PDF

Development of the Bay TMDL benefitted from considerable stakeholder and Bay Program partner input. A list of meetings where the Bay TMDL or a directly-related topic was on the agenda was compiled and is available in Appendix C of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (PDF)33pg, 402K.

The appendix also documents the record of Chesapeake Bay Program committee/workgroup and stakeholder meetings since 2008 where the Chesapeake Bay TMDL was a principal topic of the meeting.